These are just a few stories about my mom. This is the story we will tell. And we will tell it over and over again, because that is how she will live through our hearts.  I know many of you have hundreds of Pat stories. Tons of memories and tons of laughs. So go ahead and put some more wood on the fire, grab another marsh mellow and tell mom’s story, because that is how her gentleness and beautiful blue eyes come to life.

Crafty Sisters
I am convinced.
Grandma Rice, Aunt Kay, Mary and my mother were born with Superwoman Sewing Skills and fingers full of thimbles. Absolutely masters of their crafts. What Rice family member here does not have a blanket from your mom or grandma. Most popular blanket in our house is from Grandma Rice.

My Mom and Kay loved to sew. Had to. Kids everywhere growing up. Aunt Kay had an entire room on Dayton Ave. designated for making her kids clothes. My mom and her spent countless hours making clothes for us. 
I could never figure out why Aunt Kay Stuck the kids in the attic and basement until I saw her fabric room.
Beautiful bedroom turned into crafts.

Later, as both of them moved from the neighborhood, they both built houses with separate wings to store their crafts.  Very close sisters that were stitched together


Queen of the Peanut Butter and Jelly

My Mom was queen of the Peanut butter and jelly sandwich

And eventually the twinkie. Then the HOHO and then the pretzels. Wherever my mother went she probably had a zip lock full of pretzels and a side of popcorn in her purse. Master snacks she was. That’s a whole entire story I am sure her grandkids would recognize so back to the PJ.

On the beaches of lake Washburn, me and my 60 cousins, aunts and uncles and even Howard, would swim for hours upon hours. Swim, Ski, fish, play horseshoes, and swim some more.

Everyone knows that playing and swimming for long hours can make you very hungry. Enter my Mom.
Chips, Shasta and a Peanut Butter Jelly sandwich. At the beach, everyday, 2 weeks straight.
There were so many of us cousins it was probably a good time for my mom and Aunts to do a head count. Lunch at the beach seem to be a good idea. And PJs were on the menu.

And it continued.
Kindergarten through 6th grade. Same thing. Monday thru Friday. Brown lunch bag in Fridge. Chips, Twinkie and a PJ. And the bag on Friday had TGIF written on it. Fridays were very important to my mother. So, every time I make a PJ, I am smiling at my Mom, because I love pjs. And that’s why my Mom is the queen of the Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich. 


Work and Play Grandpa is on his way

My Mom and Dad worked very hard for a living.
8 to 10 hours every day for as long as I can remember on Selby Avenue. Dad the Master Electrician and Mom, The best Dry Cleaner in St. Paul.  She was the best. All Sew What Laundry came through her St. Clair location. Hot Machines, chemicals, a very hard job but she loved it.
So, two very hard-working Parents. 35 years, 8 hours a day. Everyday.
 So, I am a like 12, 13 years old. Starting to realize life a little more. I am thinking to myself, Mom and Grandpa sure seem to have fun on Fridays? Why are they mixing water with that bottle from Canada? Well, for the next 5 years, every Friday.  They were together. Every Friday and most weekends, half the neighborhood and often people I did not recognize, would stop by to hang out with Joe, Pat and Grandpa. They were rock stars. 

Later in my high school years, I had a few friends over which somehow quickly turned into a hundred friends. 
Started to get busy around Selby and Prior. There was a city council member that lived across the street, and she did not like this. She came storming into our kitchen ready to scold me and call the cops. To her surprise, there is my Dad and Mom sitting at the table playing drinking games with my friends. Her mouth dropped. Safe to say she limped back home after my dad got done with her. And after that my parents were elevated from rock stars to ICONs. Can you imagine half the kids in your high school know how cool your mom and dad are?



I never met Patricia, but knowing Joe, I heard she was a special woman. Know that Patricia and her family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Brian D. McNamara

Joe,  Dick & I were very sorry to hear Pat passed away.  We have fond memories of years ago when we first met her. We remember her smiling easy going personality. Our thoughts are with you and your family at this difficult time.   Dick & Toddy

Many years ago, Pat and I were sitting outside the cabin.  Beautiful night,  Just talking and drinking. (Yes, thats right)   I don't remember what we talked about but we knew it was getting late because Joe and wife Mary both came to the window and told us to shut up.  Didn't know why they did that until we noticed it was 4 AM.  Will miss you PAL


Happy Pat you are the most caring an amazing woman

Pat had the soul of an angel and a heart of gold. She always had her door open and positive, fun things to talk about. Her generous spirit and the way she always listened made us feel like we had always known her. Her friendship was a gift we’ll always treasure and remember. Love and peace to you, Joe, and to all of Pat’s family and friends. Connie & Ron 

Our prayers & sympathy to you & your family. So many memories of the parties, way back when, with the Langevin, Turnbull & Lancette families,   laughing & chatting with Joe & Pat always a good time. Pat had that beautiful smile that made you smile.
May God grant her eternal rest & may God grant you healing, comfort & strength as you remember Pat - wife, mother, grandmother & sister.
Blessings & love, Tony & Marilyn

A Fateful Thanks

My Mom held me back in kindergarten. That’s right I flunked Kindergarten. She thought that I was too young when I started so she held me back. I vaguely remember bits and pieces of this. I was embarrassed. Devastated. Until, Until.  The first day of 2nd year Kindergarten school. That’s when I knew my mom was a genius. I could run faster than the new kids, I knew the ropes, I knew the school I was cool, but best of all and I will never forget this, I could arrange those colored blocks from smallest to largest faster than any kid at St. Marks within a 4-block radius. She was brilliant.  It was fate.

I grew up with 5 best friends that lived within 1 block of each other and who absolutely loved her. She knew exactly what she was doing when she flunked me.
But this is why I always thanked her for this and will thank her again one last time. If she wouldn’t have held me back one class, I would have never walked down the aisle at the St. Paul Cathedral during my high school graduation with my future wife. We would have never met. She held me back for that very reason. And this fate gave her three grandchildren because of that. Thank you, Mom. You knew exactly what you were doing when you flunked me that year.



You were always a light and always had that special  beautiful smile that I loved .
You will be missed “Auntie” Pat.

The Hug

One of my earliest memories as a child.
I got lost one time at the state fair. Very young. Now getting lost was hard to do because me and a few of my cousins were tied to a rope walking down the midway. That’s right.  My mom had us tied to a rope so we would not get separated walking around the state fair.
Imagine how that would look on social media today. Our family would be locked up. Anyway, I must have escaped and wondered around. I do remember being scared. 
My Mom had a strategy though. In the car, before we went in, she gives us instructions, if any of us are to get lost, go to an office in the coliseum. This is where Dad worked so I was kind of familiar with the building. So
I am lost, I couldn’t find the rope chain, couldn’t find my mommy. Time goes by that I realize they lost me, or I escaped, one or the other. I head to the small office my mom told us to go in the car. Not more than a few minutes upon arriving to this small office under the coliseum, my mom shows up and runs and hugs and squeezes the B-Jesus out of me.
I can still feel that squeeze. Terrified and scared, as a parent now, I know what the hug meant to her. 

That was the last time we ever used the rope method.




OBITUARIO

Patricia Pal Ann Rice Langevin

2 enero, 1947 – 1 noviembre, 2021

Sunset Funeral Home & Sunset Cemetery

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